Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
448. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional weekly payment young jobseekers aged 23-24 and aged 25 will receive under the proposed new rates for jobseekers allowance if they participate in Tús; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45795/13]
View answer454. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years currently participating on the Tús programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45805/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 454 together.
The current minimum rate of payment on Tús and other DSP work placement programmes is €208 per week. This applies regardless of the age of the participant. Given the focus the Government has placed on expanding interventions in support of young unemployed people, I have indicated that a number of measures will be developed for inclusion in our Youth Guarantee plan that will be transmitted to the European Commission later this year. Among these is a commitment to increase the number of younger people participating in Tús to at least 1,000 and reserving at least 15% of the 3,000 places available on Gateway for under 26 year olds.
Tús had 794 persons under 25 participating in the middle of October 2013. The following table gives a breakdown of the number of participants on the payroll by age. The number of 25 year olds and under as a proportion of the Tús payroll in mid-October was about 12%. The breakdown of participants by age categories remained broadly stable throughout the year.
|
Age |
Numbers |
% |
|
25 |
1 |
0.1% |
|
24 |
160 |
20.1% |
|
23 |
192 |
24.2% |
|
22 |
172 |
21.6% |
|
21 |
155 |
19.5% |
|
20 |
98 |
12.3% |
|
19 |
17 |
2.1% |
|
18 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
Total |
795 |
100.0% |
